84 PRINCIPES [Vor 36

Principes.36(2). 1992. pp. 84-93

Some Aspectsof the Palms of Madagascar?and Their Cultivation at the Parc de Tsimbazaza.Antananarivo

Brersn AND DAVrD Du Puv AND VoARA ReNnnreNesoro Seruice d.esCultures, Jardin des Plantes, MNHN Paris; Legumes of Madagascar Project, RovatBotanicGardens'f:,Tuyl"7.-;;::r:::::,u"'""'nueetzootosique'

In Madagascar's national botanical gar- when compared with the palm flora of den, the Parc Botanique et Zoologique de mainland Africa. There are I34 recog- Tsimbazaza (PBZT), a horticultural project nizedpalm speciesin Madagascar,of which based on the collection and cultivation of l2B are consideredto be endemic.At the the island's native palms has recently suc- generic level, endemism remains high: of cessfully completed its first phase. Prin- the 23 genera I4 are consideredendemic. cipal funding for the project was received In East Africa, by comparisonothere are from the World Wide Fund for Nature I I indigenouspalrn genera,none of which $/Wf). Although the focus was on Mad- are endemic. In Madagascar the palms agascar's rich endemic palm flora, prac- have diversified to fill a range of niches tical aspects of the project were seen as and habitats. Unexpectedly, among the an opportunity to offer general horticul- range of growth forms exhibited by Mal- tural training to the Parc staff. The rapid agasyspecies, there are no climbing palms. loss of native forest and the alarming rate Calamus, the most widespread climbing of'erosion and habitat degradation have palm genus,is representedby I very vari- stimulated a surge of international and local able speciesin East Africa which has not inferest in Madagascar, and a concern for been recorded from Madagascar. the conservation of the wealth of native plants and animals. The Parc is at the Easternand NorthernMoist forefront of this movement; under strong ForestDomains direction an exciting educational program The greatestdiversity in the native Mal- is emerging and the living collections of agasy palms is found in the moist forest native plants and animals are undergoing domainsof the east coastand the northerly reassessment and rehabilitation. With the Sambirano region. Tall solitary stemmed support of international grants and tech- palms are a feature of the canopy in the nical advice, the collections will be able to low to mid altitude (0-1,000 m) forests. play a major role in the education of the One such canopy palm with a robust crown Malagasy people, in the orientation of short- of pinnate leavesis Neodypsis lastelliana term tourist visitors and possibly in the er which may grow to between 15 to 20 m situ conservation of some of the more and is distinguishedby a thick rusty brown threatened species. indumentum on the crown shaft. In the The palms of the island were chosen as forest ofPerineto east ofAntananarivo and the focus for the cultivation project because accessibleto visitorso Ra,aenea,robustior they are recognized as forming a partic- is conspicuousdue to its large clusters of ularly rich and interesting group, especially brilliant red fruits. In this same resion the r9921 DU PUY ET AL.: PALMS OF MADAGASCAR mixed, mid-altitude forest canopy is bro- recently felled forest patch; the leavesare ken by the few remaining individuals of usedfor roofing small cabinsand dwellings. Beccariophoenixmadagascariensis, a In the denseshade on the forest floor and now rare emergent palm species. With in the understory, small single stemmedor equally limited distribution in an isolated clustering palrns represent the genera forest region can be found,Marojejya da- Dypsis.and,Neophloga. Of thesegenera, rianii which produces semi.erect, alrnost Dypsis pinnatifrons is a frequent palm in 'shuttle-cock', entire leaves forming a the mid-story layer especiallyin the forests which, until the crown is raised up on a around theBay of Antongil. It is a graceful, stocky trunk into the canopy, fills to almost slender palm with a clustering habit and a third with litter and debris falling from dark pinnate leaves, on whieh the leaflets the canopy above.This trapped litter seems are broad and unequal. In the understory to rot rapidly and the released minerals of the forest at Perinet Neophloga con' may supplement the palm's nutritional cinna forrns attractive small stands;mem- requirements; M. darianil is only known bers of the genusNeophloga usually have from an area of white sand which is prob- few leaveswhich are pinnate, divided into ably nutrient poor and seems to be con- narrow or broad segments.N. concinna stantly waterJogged.It is from similar iso- haspinnate leaves with numerous,fine leaf- latedmoist forest regionsalong the northern lets almost evenly arranged along the mid- east coast that two new monospecificpalm rib and the two terminal leaflets fused at genera have been collected: Lernurophoe- their base. hix, the red lemur palm (Dransfieldl99I) and Voanioala, the forest coconut (Drans- Westernand SouthernDry field 1989a); both generic names reflect ForestDomains the local Malagasy names used for these On the west coast, in some localities, pahns.Lemurophoenix halleuxii is a very the palms are a spectacular feature of the large tree palm; the long pinnate leaves landscape.In the savannah-likegrasslands arise from a crown shaft which is up to the endemicBismarckia nobilis, with blue 1.5 m long and covered in white wax. or green palmate leaves, forms dense Voanioala gerardii is a spectacularpalm stands. Clusters of arching Hyphaene co- in fruit. The fruits are ginger-red,arranged riacea are abundant on the outskirts of denselyon long pendulousinfructescences. these stands and also on the more fre- With increasingaltitude in the moist forest guently burnt and impoverished grass- domainsthe forest canopy height falls, and lands. Between the western Mangoky and the vegetation becomesmore tangled. In the Tsiribihina Rivers, Borassus mada- these conditionsthe most common palm is gasca,riensis palms mingle with the Bis- Neodypsisbaronii, a short, gracefulclus- rnorchia. These two palmate-leavedspe- tering palm, very similar in habit to Chry- cies may be distinguishedat a glance due salidocarpus lutescens,the yellow cane to the swollentrunks of the Borasszspalms. palm of lowlandand littoral conditions.The A secondendemic Borassus species,B. clustering habit is also displayedby mem- sambiranensis,occurs further north on bers of the genus Vonitra, some species the coastal plain of the Sambirano. Phoe- of which may also display dichotomously nix reclinata also occurs on these season- branched stems, such as V. fibrosa, the ally wet northern plains. In the western most widespreadspecies of the genus. Zo- deciduous forests the rohust and single- nitra palms may be frequent under moist stemmed Chry salidocarpus riuularis arrd forest conditionsnear streamsor small riv- the often clustering, variable C. mada- ers from sea-levelto 900 m altitude and gascariensis are frequent species.Chry- are often the only remaining plants in a salidoearpusonilohensis is prominent in PRINCIPES [Vor-.36

l. Malagasy people crowd the Parc on a national holiday. 2. Dypsis humbertii tar. angustifolia, a moist forest understory palm with tlpically undivided leaves. the shelteredgullies of the Isalo massif of country; they are known and used by the southern central Madagascargrowing with local people as a source of food or mate- the graceful Raaenea glauca. Scattered rials. The young leaves of Bismarckia stands of Rauenea xerophila, the most nobilis are usedfor roofing and their trunks drought tolerant of the Malagasy palms, for building. Beccariophoenix madagas- occur in the xerophytic vegetation of the cariensis is valued for its leaveswhich are south. The leaves of this palm are very used to weave hats. The tough leaves of stiff, the leaflets held in a steep V and Hyphaene coriacea are widely used for covered with a white waxv bloom. and the weavingmats, and copioussugary sap is trunk is obscured beneath the retained collected from its cut inflorescencesand fibrousleaf bases.Neodypsis decaryi, from rapidly fermented into a heady beer. The the southeast,is a striking palm due to the sparse,stiff leavesof Raaeneaxerophila strongtristichous arrangement of its leaves. are harvestedfor basket weavins. Vonitra This speciesis endemic to a small patch fbrosa and,V. utilis areimportant locally of forest transitional between the wet and for the fiber that is associatedwith the leaf the dry domains. sheaths. The longer fibers from Vonitra may be twisted into ropes and used in the Ethnobotanyof the NativePalms construction of small cabins, the shorter 'mats' Many of the native palms play an impor- fibers are used in small to pad or tant role in the rural economies of the shield the bare shoulders of porters car- r9921 DU PUY ET AL.: PALMSOF MADAGASCAR

rying heavy loads slung from horizontally held poles. The narrow stems of some of the Dypsis and Phloga species are said to have been used to make blow pipes, their narrow straight stems providing a suitable form. Edible fruits are gathered from some palms, such as those of the Hyphaene, Phoenix and Borassu.s. The trunk of Rauenearobustior is rich in car- bohydrate and can be used as a source of sago.Palm hearts (the apical bud) of many native species,including Rauenea rnad(t- g asca.riensis and Chry salidoc arpu s mad- agascariensis, make a contribution to the diets of many rural people. Other palms are known to be poisonousor bitter. Mal- agasyforest peopleknow Ihat Orania pro- duces poisonousseeds and bitter, poison- ous apical buds; the apical bud of Rauenea arnara is known to be edible but bitter. Raphia farinifera, the Raffia palm, is 'widespread,but only in secondary vege- tation on the island; although it is thought to have been introduced to Madagascar with human settlement(Dransfield 19896), 3. The ravaged crown of a rare, mature Rauenea xerophila; the stiff grey leaves are cut for basket its fiber and fruits are widely usedthrough- weaving. out its distribution on the island. Raffia fruits are edible and refreshing, and the which the forest is cut. This constant attri- trees are further valued for the production tion of the forest is a major threat to the of fiber from their young leaflets, which is diversity of the palm flora. As a group the used locally to weave baskets, and on the palms of Madagascar exhibit an extraor- east coast a stiff'cloth' is produced which dinarily high degree of island endemism. is used to make simple garments. Fibers Several Malagasy palm species are only are used in the manufacture of fish traps known from limited localities; this high level and numerous other utensils; these fibers of micro-endemism or local endemism are produced in sufrcient quantities to make placessuch species as Marojejya darianii a strong contribution to the national and.Borassus sambiranensisofor exam- exports. The long petiolesof this palm are ple, in a position particularly vulnerable to used for roof joists and their rounded stress due to habitat loss or habitat deg- smooth structure suits them for use as radation. Exploitation by local users also carrying poles among west coast people. places stress on a declining population of plants; the removal of leaves for weaving HabitatStresses, Endemism or as fodder for cattle reduces fruiting and Exploitation potential. Other endemic species, partic- ularly attractive or rare species such as The fragile soils of the island coupled Neodypsis decaryi, Raaenea xerophila, with the traditional agricultural practices andBeccariophoenix rnadagascariensis, encouragea system of shifting cultivation, are further threatenedby the unrestrained requiring a steady supply of fresh land, for collection of seed for palm enthusiasts. PRINCIPES [Vor-.36

for any future redevelopment.Over et Zoologique bilities The ParcBotanique the pastfew decades,a seriouslack ofboth Tsimbazaza de horticultural skill and financial support have The cultivation of Madagascar'snative resulted in the impoverishment of the plant speciesat the Parc de Tsimbazaza plantings.Many specimensare over-mature has a long history. The existing botanical or in need of pruning and others, debili- and zoologicalParc is the modern exten- tated by unsuitablecultural conditions,are sion of an ancient Royal garden originally infested with insect pests. constructedby the Malagasy Merina kings and queensof the l7th to the l9th cen- The Palmetum tury. Within the capital city, Antanana- rivo, and landscapedaround a descending On a steep hill, under a stern-faced seriesof manmadelakes, the Parc has an statue of the French naturalist, Alfred air of tranquillity and seclusioncreated by Grandidier, a mixed palmetum has been the surrounding cliffs and steep hillsides developed.A structure of paths and open and intensified by thick stands of bamboo lawns is demarcated by avenues of the and woodlandareas. Lake Tsimbazaza,the exotic Queen Palm Syagrus rorn'anzof- largest of the Parc's lakes, is a place of fiana, probablyplanted for its rapid growth. national legend, the most frequently The palmetum not only contains palms, repeatedof which is the story of the young but also Pandanus plants and specimens Princes. Many years ago, the twin sonsof of the native TravellerosTree, Raaenala a Merina king usedto bathe in the refresh- trladagascariensis. Native palms include ing waters of the lake. One day an unex- mature clumpsof Chrysalidocarpus lutes- pected wind stirred the normally calm cens and the similar Neodypsis baronii. waters, and the young men were drownedl A specimenof Vonitra f.brosa also forms their bodies were never recovered. The a dense clump, the stems covered in pale king, their father, had a gold coffin cast' brown fibers. Chrysalidocarpus deci- and to symbolizetheir burial the coffin was piens,'native to the High Plateaux, is'a Iaunched into the lake. valuable and healthy feature of the collec- Under French colonization,earlier this tion. This species may occur with twin century, the Parc was developed as a cigar-shaped trunks, an indication of its botanical and zoological research center, apparent ability to branch dichotomously and openedto the public as an educational as a young plant in the rosette state; more resource. Living and dried collections of usually one of these stems dies. Several the fauna and flora of the island were gath- specimensof Neodypsis decaryi have been ered for study and display. The Parc, discoveredin the palmetum, none of them located towards the eastern slopes of the in good health. However, good cultivation island's central High Plateaux, at an alti- of this speciesshould be possibleunder the tude of 1,250-i,450 m (a.s.l.)falls into Parc's climatic constraints; a single fruit- a climatic zone where dry cold winters ing specimen has been seen elsewherein betweenApril and Septemberare followed a sheltered garden in the city. by heavy summer rains. The averagetem- Many of the palms, especiallythe dense perature is around l8o C, but winter nights clumpsof Chrysalidocarpus lutescens,are can be cold, with temperaturesclose to the suffering from heavy infestations of scale freezing point. The existing planting indi- insectsincluding the sap suckingsoft brown cates that the French collected material scale(Coccus hesperidum) and the coco- from most of the vegetation types on the nut scale (Pinnaspis sp.) which resembles island. These establishedplantings set an a sprinkling of shredded coconut on the important precedent in cultivation possi- leaflets. The brown scale is responsiblefor r9e2) DU PUY ET AL.: PALMSOF MADAGASCAR 89

further problems: the insects exude a sug- cleanedimmediately on collection and the 'sooty ary liquid which is colonizedby black germination process initiated. The estab- molds' that cover the leaves and reduce lished technique(Jones 1984) of placing photosynthetic efficiency. cleanedseed, wrapped in moist mossinto plastic bags,was followed. Numerous small The PalmCultivation Project plastic bags each with 5-10 seedswere used in order to limit the lossesof seedto The palrn collection and cultivation proj- predatory insectshidden within apparently ect has four goals: clean seed.Germination of most fresh seed l. the organized and scientific collection was rapid; ripe seedsof Mctrojejya dari- of material to increase the native palm anii which had been collected from fallen collection at the Parc; clustersaround the baseof the trees gave 2. to improve germination procedures and almost 857o germination after six to eight nursery cultivation techniques; weeks. Most members of the Dypsidinae 3. to assist with the development of gen- (Dypsis, Chrysalidocarpus, Neodypsis eral horticultural techniques to improve and.Vonitra)produced smaller seed, which cultivation of specimens in the pal- germinated within four to six weeks. In metum; thesesmall seededspecies, germination is 4. to assist with educational displays based adjacent-ligular.The Chrysalidocarpus on the native palm flora. and.Dypsis seedlingsrapidly lost the rad- icle and producedseveral wiry adventitious Seed and plantlet collections were car- , roots from the baseof the seedline.Neo- ried out with the assistance of botanical dypsis seedlingsdeveloped a singte pri- teams from The Royal Botanical Gardens, mary root or radicle which itself produced Kew and from the Missouri Botanical Gar- fine lateral roots. Subsequentdevelopment den. Particular species considered to be of these seedlings occurred relatively under habitat stress or suitable for culti- steadilyand without unduedifficulties. After vation in the Parc were targeted. An expe- approximately eleven weeksLemuro p hoe- dition to the east coast enabled the recently zir seeds also exhibited adjacent germi- described endemic Marojejya darianii to nation, but subsequentdevelopment ofthe be accessionedto the Parc. Further expe- radicle and plumule was very slow, and ditions yielded seed of both Borasszs spe- the seedlingswere prone to rot before this cies, and later the canopy palrn Lemuro- could occur. Seedsof Orania, Hyphaene phoenix halleuxii was collected. The and Bismarckia provided examples of project resulted in twenty-two new palm remote ligular germination. Fleshy, white accessionsto the Parc. Each of these col- cotyledonary stalks grew from the seeds, lections of living material was accompanied diving into the compost and carrying the by an herbarium collection. These dried seedlingaway from the large seeds;these voucher specimens will facilitate the nam- cotyledonary stalks proved to be fragile ing of the living material and will contribute structures,prone to rot and insectattacks. to essential taxonomic studies of the palm This germination mechanism ensuresthat flora now underway in Madagascar and at the young crown of the seedling is shel- Kew. tered below the soil surface and that it is SeedGermination well anchoredby deep-setroots. The gen- era Bismarckia and Hy phaene both form The germinationof palm seedwas found dense stands on the \ryesternsedimentary to be most successfulwhen the seed was plainsofthe island,regions that suffer from fresh and ripe. In these conditions 60- annual fires. This germination type, cou- B07o germinationwas achieved. Seed was pled with the characteristics of monocot- 90 PRINCIPES lVoL. 36 yledon trunk morphology,may account for tivated under strict securityuntil they reach their ability to withstand the effects of the a suitablesize for planting out safely in the annual burn. Borassus speciesalso have Parc. Seedlingswill eventually be moved the same germination syndrome (Corner out of the house, to continue growth in 1966). Orania occurs on steep,often pre- shaded,Iocked wire cages. cipitous slopes in the east coast forests where this plunging seedlingdevelopment The Projectin the Palmetum may ensurea secureanchorage which could In the palmetum, work concentratedon be an advantagein maintaining position the removal of non-palm specimens and on the slope. the amelioration of conditions for the I remaining plants. Dense, thick clumps of SeedlingGultivation Chrysalidocarpus lutescenswere thinned. I The removal of stems should improve the The palm seedlingcultivation was car- air circulation, and reduce the shelter ried out in a secure, shadedgreenhouse in offered to insect pests.As a further means the Parc nursery. Seedlingswere guarded of combatingthe heavy infestationsof scale, in their moss wrapping in the bags, often 'White Oil' was imported. This petroleum until the first leaf emerged, or until the oil can be an effective treatment for many cotyledonary stalk reached a cumbersome insect pests, and is of a sufficiently low and fragile length. At this point individuals level of toxicity for its use to be recom- were potted into a carefully developed mended where safety precautions are dif- compost and were weaned under humid ficult. It is used at I part of White Oil to conditionsin a tent before standing in the 60 or 80 parts of water; if more concen- open house. Humidity in the house was trated it is known to cause scorching, maintained by the regular spraying of especiallyunder conditions of bright light. water; the adoption of extra shadingin the Under a schoolparticipation program, the house and over planting-out beds created turf surrounding specimen plants was a suitably reduced level of light. The com- removed n a 2 m diameter circle and post used was a modification of the basic replaced with an I cm layer of organic mix establishedfor the nursery: loam, grit, compost,to improve the nutritional status and humic composton l:l:l ratios. For of the lateritic soil. Most of the Pandanus the palms, this general mix was supple- and.Dracaena plants were cut out, and with choppedcoconut fiber or moss, mented their roots removed. This had the effect and pieces of charcoal and brick shards, of opening up and accenting the planting, on the ratio of 2 parts of general mix: and will help to increaseair movement and l: I in order to improve the drainage and Iight levels for the remaining palm speci structure of the mix. It was considered mens. In a future co-operativeprogram important that these compost ingredients with forestry workers, some of the larger shouldbe easily availableand inexpensive. exotic palms will be removed. It has also Pots presenteda problem in that contain- been recommendedthat irrigation should ers of sufficient depth combined with a be installed to supplementthe light winter narrow diameter were difficult to locate. rains. This was eventually solved by the use of narrow open weave plastic waste-paper Leaflets,Labels and basketsproduced by a local factory. These NoticeBoards baskets had a suitably low unit price and long life expectancy. The problems of loss Prior to the cultivation project, a leaflet of plantsto maraudingchickens and thieves (available in English, French and Mala- will necessitatethat young palms are cul- gasy) was produced as a result of funding r9921 DU PUY ET AL.: PALMS OF MADAGASCAR 9l from WWF. This leaflet, distributed habitat to encourage continuation and through the Parc, formed the pivot for the regenerationin situ; poster displays developed under the cul- -Ihe ex siru cultivation of targeted spe- tivation project. cies by the means of seed produced Labelsfor the palmshave beendesigned plants within Madagascaroto explore which indicate scientific and vernacular cultivation requirements and to form the names and region of origin. These will be basis of a conservation stock; erected initially for the native palms and -the protection from excessivetrade and eventually for all the plants in the Parc. the r4onitoring of existing trade as Notice boards, one of which was con- offered by CITES (Conventionon Inter- structed in the palmetum, offer the oppor- national Trade in EndangeredSpecies) tunity for seasonal poster displays and listing. information sheets.A seriesof six colorful Many of the native palm species are cartoon posters was designedand a Mal- very attractive and would be exciting to agasyartist commissionedto produce them see in cultivation. To limit the effects of with text both in French and Malagasy. seed collection from habitat plants a gen- Theseposters form part of a larger display eral policy o{ cultivation for seed harvest highlighting the uses of the native palms. could be incorporated into the conserva- tion policy. Recommendationsfor Future PlantingDevelopment Ex Situ Conservation There are many possibilitiesfor the fur- ther development of the palmetum using The restricted distribution of many of the wide range of native speciesand their the native palm species,and the pressures variability in form. It could alsobe valuable on wild populations from collectors and to developthe collection towards a display enthusiasts,suggests particular speciesas of palms with different growth habits, such suitable for the attention of ex situ cttlti- as Marojejya with its litter collecting crown vation conservation projects. Rauenea and the numeroussmall forest floor Dypsis xerophila, from the xerophytic vegetation and.Neophloga palms. Many of thesespe- of the central south of the island, would ciescould alsobe incorporatedinto suitable be a suitable candidate for such a project. habitatsin the generalplanting of the Parc. The remaining individuals are now Riparian speciessuch as Vonitra crinita restricted to small scattered stands all of could be planted by the lakes and shade- which fall outside the region's protected requiring speciesin the large display shade areas. This speciesis thus consideredto house. Under the planned redevelopment. be in immediate threat of extinction in its of the Parc, the palmetum will continue to native habitat. Most of the R. xerophila be a focal area. plants located have been severely debili- tated by the removal of leavesor graz:irrg. The populations are further stressed by Conservation the uncontrolled and usually unauthorized collection of seed for international collec- To ensure the continued survival and tors. A secondthreatened pakn Beccario- diversity of the palms native to Madagas- phoenix moda,gascariensisfrom the east- car a co-ordinated conservation policy ern forests,now probably limited to a single shouldbe consideredand implemented.This known stand of six adults, would also be policy should be directed into: a suitable candidate. Habitat lossoat least -protection of the populationin the native in principle, is not a threat in this case as 92 PRINCIPES [Vor. 36 the stand is within a protected area, but from CITES restrictions,the CITES Annual the very tall, mature trees are still cut Report for I9B9 did indicate the export down to facilitate seed collections. of 103 kg of 1[. decaryi seed and also Strict conditions apply to ex situ c;.tl- reported the exportation of approximately tivation(BGCS 1989), and if any real con- 20 plantletseach of C. decipiensand Ra- tribution to conservationis to be achieved, oenea xerophila. In the case of other efforts must be made to adhere to these endangeredgroups the listing of a species conditions. Guidelines are set out within on the CITES appendicesdoes seem to the Botanical Garden ConservationStrat- have had someinfluence on reducing trade egy, produced in l9B9 by the IUCN in habitat collected material and on Botanical Garden ConservationSecretar- encouragingthe controlled cultivation and iat. Among these guidelines is the basic propagationofthe species.Given the extent requirement that as wide a range as pos- of the seed collections, and the pressures sible of specimensrepresenting a species on existing populations it would seem should be cultivated, in order to conserve advisableto removethe exceptionto CITES the range of genotypes.Thus seed should control for the seedsof the two listed spe- be collected and grown from various pop- cies and to give CITES monitoring to fur- ulations throughout the geographical and ther, rare Malagasypalm speciesby CITES ecologicalrange of the species.The limited listing. Appendix 2 listing would offer some range of some of the Malagasy endemic degree of protection to Marojejya dari- palms has already been assessedby pre- anii, Voanioala gerardii and Lemuro- liminary surveys; for the targeted species phoenix halleuxii, all of which are highly these surveys could be developed.Follow- attractive species of very limited known ing the suggestedguidelines for ex situ distribution. The listing of species on conservation, the Parc could arrange for Appendix I of CITES (a level of listing the designation of a locality within the used for species considered to be under country for the safe cultivation of these threat of extinction in their habitat) would native speciesand could perhaps eventu- strictly prohibit all commercial trade in ally facilitate the legal and controlled dis- wild specimens.This level of protection persal of seedfrom mature plants to over- may be suitablefor Rauenea xerophila, seascollections. Borassus sambiranensis,and Beccario- phoenix madagascariensis.The listingof CITESListing these specieson Appendix I of the CITES Iegislationwould prohibit internationaltrade Only two Malagasy palms are as yet and shoulddeter collectorsand enthusiasts by international law: Neodypsis protected from taking, buying or accepting speci- dec ar yi andChry s alidoc ar pus d ecipien s. mens of thesespecies. Both thesespecies are named on Appendix 2 of the CITES regulations controlling Acknowledgments trade, although seed of both speciesis exempt. Appendix 2 listing requires that We should like to thank the staff of the those wishing to export specimensobtain Parc Botaniquede Tsimbazaza,in partic- an export permit or certificate which is ular Jackie Andrianatina and Guy Rafa- issued by the country of origin, prior to mantanantsoa for their hard work and "such handlingand after determinationthat enthusiasm with the collection and culti exports will not be detrimental to the sur- vation of the palms. We are grateful to vival of the species" (CITES Secretariat the World Wide Fund for Nature and to I9B2); this system allowsthe extent of the the Iris Darnton Foundation for grants trade to be monitored. Although exempt awardedto the project; to the Royal Botan- r9921 DU PUY ET AL.: PALMSOF MADAGASCAR ical Gardens,Kew and Missouri Botanical DnaxsrrsI-l, J. 1989a. Voanioala (Arecoideae: Gardens,in particular to Mr. J. Simmons, Cocoeae:Butiinae), a new palm genusfrom Mad- agascar. Kew Bull. 44(2): L9l-I98. Dr. J. Dransfieldand Mr. D. N. Cookeof 1989b. Speciation patterns in the palms Kew and Dr. P. Lowry of Missouri, for all of Madagascar. In: L. B. Holm-Nielsen et al. their adviceand supportover the term of (eds.).Tropical forests, botanical dynamics, spe- the project. ciation and diversity. Academic Press, London, pp. I53-171. 1991. Lemurophoenix(Palmae: Arecoi LruenetuRe Cnro deae),a new genusfrom Madagascar.Kew Bull. 46(l): 6l-68. BGCS. 1989. The Botanic Cardens Conservation JoNns, D. 1984. Palms in Australia. Reed Publi Strategy. cations. Australia. Crrrs SncnnranlAT. 1989. Amual Report, Mad- agascar. CoRNER,E. J. H. 1966. The natural history of palms. Weidenfeld and \icholson, London.

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